The Sheltering Sky, a powerful novel written by Paul Bowles, presents a disturbing narrative in which an American husband and wife, Porter and Kit Moresby, travel in North Africa at some time in the late 40s or early 50s of the last century.

Katya

A Novel by Sandra Birdsell

Milkweed Editions, September 2004

ISBN: 1571310436

This superb lyrical novel of the Russian Revolution, first published in Canada by McClelland & Stuart as The Russlander, portrays the harrowing life of Katya Vogt.

Steven Riddle (at his superb blog) offers readers (including me) this wonderful discovery: The Library of America has been posting short stories (and other short works) for readers. Check it out through Steven’s site, which you can access here.

Roofwalker

Stories and Creative Nonfiction by Susan Power

Milkweed Editions, December 2004

ISBN: 1571310398

Paperback: 216pp; $14.95

The author of this beautiful collection of short stories and creative nonfiction is—as is noted on the dust jacket of the 2002 hardcover edition—“an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe,” a former “Ms.

Some people enjoy reading short stories, and some people–for a variety of reasons–avoid them. What about you? Why?